After watching #ChicagoLand last night, a new CNN series with one of my best friends whom is also from Chicago, I began to feel sooooo hurt & disheartened by the stories we shared and the stories we heard on the show. The show depicts the true-life images of the beautiful historic city of Chicago, and how it is really a "Tale of Two Cities."

I grew up in the Bronx, NY and then Newark, NJ in the 90's through early 2000's. So I'm very familiar with gang violence, drug infested communities, under aided housing and schools, under funded city planning and no true urban development in its poorest communities. I'm well verse in this. Chicagoland however, was the backdrop for bringing a painful past that I had locked away for quite sometime, back to life in full force. I had nightmares all night thinking about what if I didn't make it out of "Brick City".

Our children and youth in urban cities like Chicago are dying at an alarming rate, as America turns a blind eye to this epidemic. We are more concerned with political and fiscal gains, rather than educating and servicing the disenfranchised. If America is a business, then what are we selling? The business motto "you're only as strong as your weakest link..." is cliché and a falsehood not used when it comes to that said business saving those of color and poverty who obviously are the weakest link.

Children and young adults are more hopeless in these huge cities that ironically have endless possibilities. Historic museums, national and state parks, monuments, etc all are the core landscape of many of these beautiful cities. But, our children know nothing about them. They can't see the Forest; they only see the Tree in front of them. Where is the Love for the downtrodden? Where is the love for people whom need it most? Where is the love for the children of our future?

Big business and government both have failed the very people who they were elected to protect. Education systems are failing our generation daily. Leaving many to drop out by 8th grade, or to be matriculated grade to grade without being truly educated. Then sadly enough the urban students who happen to make it through High School graduation get weeded out at the College level. Most drop out from a lack of family financial support. We have tons of well-groomed and educated students ready for college who financially can't afford to stay in school.

According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for 2013-2014 school year was $30,094 at private colleges, $8,893 for state residents at public colleges, and $22,203 for out of state residents attending same public schools. While the average family income per year in these communities are under $30K Annually. Where is the Love? So I know your next statement is what about student loans, scholarships, grants, etc. Please, the higher learning interest rates on Educational Loans given to kids are atravesty and ploy to keep you in debt pretty much for the rest of your life.

When the fore-founders of Colleges/Universities along with Big Business, Banks, and Government Policy got together to create this phenomena named Higher Education they didn't have the poor in mind. However, once they realized we were interested and wanted the same privileges as our counterparts they created the greatest Lie ever!!!! THAT A PIECE OF PAPER NAMED THE COLLEGE DIPLOMA is the only way to capture the "American Dream." Of course we believed them. Don’t we always?

Despite popular belief we as a community graduate at a pretty good rate comparatively to other ethnicities. Now do we get jobs to pay off these LOANS we have taken out for said Education and that almighty Diploma??? Of Course not!! Then our children whom actually are now educated are working careers and jobs literally just to pay back Federal and Private Loans are doing so for the rest of their lives. Oh and don't miss a payment. We all know Sallie Mae has every phone number and address we can ever think of! LOL But, talking about the Ploy of Student Loans is an Article within itself. But, as far as education as a whole, Where is the Love?

Where is the Love? When does reality set in that these failures in the educational programs across the country in urban communities will eventually be the reason Americas future isn't as bright as the rest of the worlds! Something must be done, someone must stop the bleeding. The children are the backbone of this country and if we don't give them the resources to succeed we cannot be mad when America as a whole fails to be the dominating force as it once was.

Praying for the children in Chicago and every city like Chicago where it seems like a hopeless time. God will provide.

Peace & Love

Tune in to #ChicagoLand on CNN Thursdays check local listing for times in your area!
~G6

Twitter: @Gee6
Instagram: GeeHenry

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